PDF Printing Issues

How to Find Flip on Short Edge for Mac Duplex Printing

Maira Mehtab Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to locate the Flip on Short Edge or short-edge binding option when attempting to print two-sided PDF documents.

How to Find Flip on Short Edge in Mac Duplex Printing

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Printing double-sided PDF documents that require calendar-style binding on a Mac, typically using a Brother printer.
Observed behavior: The Flip on Short Edge option is missing, hidden, or unavailable in the Adobe Acrobat print dialog box on Mac.

Before you start

Verify that your printer physically supports automatic duplex (two-sided) printing and that it is powered on and connected to your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Duplex Printing via System Printer Settings

Access the native Mac print dialog through Adobe Acrobat to uncover hidden binding options like Flip on Short Edge.

Sometimes third-party application print dialogs mask the native system options. Opening the system's printer settings directly from Acrobat allows you to configure layout and binding preferences natively.

Open the Print Dialog

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to File in the top menu, and select Print.

Access Printer Settings

Click the 'Printer...' button located at the bottom of the Acrobat Print dialog box to open the native Mac system print dialog.

Locate Layout Options

In the new dialog box, look for a dropdown menu usually labeled 'Layout' or 'Printer Features' beneath the Orientation settings.

Select Short-Edge Binding

Check the box for 'Two-Sided' printing if it isn't already checked, and select 'Short-Edge binding' or 'Flip on Short Edge' from the layout options.

Print the Document

Click 'Print' to confirm your system settings, then click 'Print' again in the Acrobat dialog to start printing.

Enable Duplex Printing via System Printer Settings

Check Printer Defaults: You can save these settings as a 'Preset' in the Mac print dialog so you don't have to manually select Short-Edge binding every time.

Solution 2

Update Adobe Acrobat and Restart

Updating Adobe Acrobat ensures compatibility with the latest macOS printer drivers, restoring missing print features.

Effortless PDF Printing Solution

Print PDFs Easily with WPS Office for Mac

If you are tired of complex print dialogs, WPS Office provides a clean, user-friendly interface for handling PDF documents on Mac. Finding advanced print options like duplex printing and short-edge binding is straightforward and hassle-free.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document.
3. Open Print Settings: Click the Print icon on the toolbar or press Cmd + P.
4. Select Duplex Options: In the print dialog box, locate the 'Print on both sides' section.
5. Choose Short Edge: Select the 'Flip on short edge' radio button and click Print.

Intuitive print dialog with clearly visible duplex and layout settingsSeamless format compatibility with all standard PDF documentsLightweight application that opens large PDF files instantlyAll-in-one free suite for PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Flip on Long Edge and Flip on Short Edge?

Flip on Long Edge means the pages turn like a traditional book or magazine. Flip on Short Edge means the pages turn like a top-bound calendar or legal notepad.

Why is the Two-Sided printing option grayed out on my Mac?

The option may be grayed out if your printer hardware does not support automatic duplex printing, or if you are using a generic printer driver instead of the specific driver provided by the manufacturer (e.g., Brother).

How do I make Flip on Short Edge my default printing setting on a Mac?

Open a document and press Cmd + P to print. Select your preferred settings including Short-Edge binding. Click the 'Presets' dropdown menu, select 'Save Current Settings as Preset', name it, and choose this preset for future print jobs.

PDF Troubleshooting